Weekend Getaway: San Antonio Is Pure Tex-Mex Charm

Believe it or not, San Antonio is the place to be. Amazon recently released its annual list of the 20 most romantic cities in the United States...and you may be surprised to learn that the Texas city came out on top.

The Central Texas hub is home to over 800,000 Latinos -- and the unique combination of people, cultures, and backgrounds makes for one diverse, colorful, magnetic tourist destination. For a summer getaway, there's a number of attractions that kids, adults, and everyone in between will love. Six Flags Fiesta Texas is perfect for families with adventerous (and thrill-seeking!) teenagers. The Alamo and the surrounding Missions will leave the history buffs in your family giddy with excitement. Best of all, the year-round warm weather and countless golf courses are perfect for workaholics looking for a place to stretch their limbs and enjoy the sunshine for a weekend.

Because San Antonio is the newly-crowded romantic capital of the United States, we decided to ditch the northeast (and the polar vortex!) and head down south to scope out thecity for ourselves. We quickly discovered that the beautiful weather, Southern hospitality, rich history, and authentic Mexican grub made San Antonio, Texas the perfect weekend getaway.

FRIDAY AFTERNOON:

Once you touchdown in sunny Texas, we recommend heading over to the stately and luxurious Westin Riverwalk hotel, located just off one of the city's greatest treasures, the Riverwalk.

After checking in to the gorgeous Westin, take an hour or two to leisurely explore the surrounding area.The river is lined with restaurants, boutiques, spas, hotels, and bars -- and it’s absolutely stunning at night. History buffs can even board a 35-minute narrated cruise. Hop on to a river boat and explore the gorgeous scenic route while learning about the history of the space and the city. Take a spin around the area and then settle down for a drink and dinner at Boudro's, cited by Esquire as one of the 50 best restaurants in the US. The bistro embraces local flavors and regional culture for a menu that’s distinctly Texas. We’re talkin’ smoked shrimp enchiladas and blackened prime rib to die for. On a warm night, sit at one of the patio tables and top off your meal with a prickly pear margarita, a bowl of table side guacamole, and a slide of lime chess pie with butter pastry crust.

Okay, well, after all that eating, let's be honest: you’re probably going to want to do some walking. We recommend heading over to the Art Walk in Southtown, which occurs the first Friday of every month. Dubbed San Antonio’s “bohemian district”, Southtown has a distinctly hipster flair. Alongside architectually stunning buildings lie vintage boutiques, chic bars, and upscale art galleries. Take a spin around the neighborhood and stop off for a pint of beer at Blue Star Brewery for some Texas-style funbefore heading back to the hotel. Cozy up in the Westin pillow-top mattresses, and prepare for tomorrow's adventures in Hill Country!

Originally from El Paso, Texas, Cristina Mari Arreola earned her degree at the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University before moving to New York, New York. In her downtime, you can usually find her scouring the city for the most authentic Mexican food (still looking...), scaring herself silly watching horror movies, or frantically reading a novel from her (extremely lengthy) reading list. . You can follow her on Twitter at @c_arreola.

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